Republicans have gained significant ground among black and Hispanic voters ahead of the midterm elections, a new poll shows.

At least 40% percent of Hispanic and 21% of black voters reported they would back a Republican candidate in the midterm elections citing rising inflation as a key reason they are voting Republican, according to the USA TODAY/Suffolk University Poll. President Joe Biden initially downplayed inflation concerns as early as July 2021, saying a spike in prices would only be “temporary,” yet the Consumer Price Index (CPI) climbed to 8.2% year-over-year in September. (RELATED: GOP Holds Generic Congressional Ballot Lead In NPR/Marist Poll For The First Time In Eight Years)

In the 2020 presidential election, then-candidate Donald Trump only received 12% of black and 32% of Hispanic votes, signaling that the economy is a key concern in 2022 for the black and Hispanic demographics that have seen food prices reach a 40-year high, gas prices skyrocket and mortgage rates continue to climb. Hispanics have been hit particularly hard by rising inflation as 44% said the economy was their top issue, the poll reported.

Despite ever growing inflation, Biden believes “we’re starting to see some of the good news on the economy,” he said last week.

The economy was ranked the most important issue to vote on with 37% of all respondents saying it would determine how they vote in the midterms, according to the poll.

NEW USA Today/Suffolk poll, generic ballot:

Republicans 49
Democrats 45

40% of Hispanics and 21% of Blacks are backing the Republican candidate.https://t.co/kErlMT67Wj

— Josh Kraushaar (@JoshKraushaar) October 27, 2022

Democrats have leaned into the recent Supreme Court ruling on Roe v. Wade in an effort to gin up support among the electorate, but only 18% of respondents said abortion was the top issue, according to the poll. Inflation has been a key issue for voters for many months, and a July poll by Monmouth University showed only 5% of voters considered abortion an important issue while 63% said inflation was a top priority.

Despite numerous polls, Democrats have continued to focus on abortion — spending $18 million on abortion-related ads earlier this month.

In total, Republicans polled higher than Democrats on the generic congressional ballot showing 49% to 45%, according to the poll. Democrats previously led 44% to 40% in July, according to a July USA TODAY poll.

The poll was conducted among 1,000 likely voters between Oct. 19 and 24 and has a margin of error of 3.1%.

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